Univ. Of Hawaii Enters Local TV Negotiations With Future Of PPV Model In Question

UH is currently in an exclusive negotiating period with Oceanic Time Warner

The Univ. of Hawaii has "begun negotiations that will determine the shape of its local sports television package and whether pay-per-view will continue beyond its current 13 years," according to Ferd Lewis of the HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER. Oceanic Time Warner currently holds the contract, and KHNL-NBC/KFVE-MYT are "interested in the broadcast rights" set to expire June 30. Oceanic "began exclusive negotiations Friday, as its contract allows." The contract also states that "if no deal is reached by Feb. 28," UH "may open talks to other parties." The contract with Oceanic "guarantees the school" $2.3M per year "with an opportunity to receive more if certain mileposts are reached." UH said that it received $2.45M for '12. Due to an arrangement unique to the Mountain West Conference, the amount Oceanic pays UH is "the only football TV money the school receives unless television revenues for all 11 other conference members surpass" the $2.3M figure (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 11/4).

TICKET TROUBLE: Lewis writes UH's "shortfall in ticket revenue" from home football games could hit nearly $1M and "force department-wide cutbacks in athletics." The athletic department, with a six-game home schedule, "had projected" $4.33M in football ticket revenues this year. But UH officials said that with sales in on four games and "only the walk-up sales for two games remaining," the school is at $3.13M and "unlikely to top" $3.4M. UH AD Ben Jay said, "Without those operating funds, I'm scared about what our year-end is going to look like." UH had "expected to easily exceed last year's total" of $3.32M and "reach the five-year average" of $4.2M (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 11/5).